Now things are getting better — not perfect, but definitely
better — and people are beginning to spend again and take trips away from home.
I love to travel, so I’m particularly glad I have some extra cash to delegate
to some fun in the sun.
However, I still find that going just short distance can
feel like you are a thousand miles away when you explore as if you were actually
far from home. That brings me to four things you can do this year to feel like
your vacation never ends.
1.
Concerts.
When it comes to music, I really am a little bit country and
a little bit rock and roll. I grew up listening to everything — The Beach Boys,
Elvis, George Strait, Alan Jackson, The Beastie Boys, Nirvana, The Beatles,
Metallica, Little Richard — the list goes on.
I don’t discriminate when it comes to music. If it has a
beat, I’ll listen to it (for the most part; there are a few exceptions).
Same goes for concerts.
The experience of live music is like no other. The ambiance of seeing music performed
and the talent that artists have is almost indescribable. That’s why when my
favorite musicians are going to be somewhere close, I try to go.
So when I saw a billboard that Big & Rich with Cowboy
Troy was going to be at Wind Creek
Atmore on July 25, I was elated.
Now, I have seen them in concert before, but they are so
good live that I want to see them again. Not to mention it would be the perfect
time for a summer staycation at Muskogee
Inn!
2.
Splurge
on things that aren’t part of everyday life.
With life so busy these days, it’s sometimes difficult to
come up with new ways to have fun and do things within a given radius. But with
Atmore, Ala., being only a driving distance away from Mobile, Ala., Montgomery,
Ala., Pensacola, Fla., and Columbus, Ga., booking a room for the weekend at
Muskogee Inn and seeing a country music concert seems like a win-win to me.
During the day, I can try my luck at the casino for a bit,
get a spa treatment at the
resort, see the movie
I have been wanting to watch or even challenge a friend to a bowling game.
It’s not every day I get to enjoy a spa or go bowling. And the cinema here is
exceptionally priced, so I could enjoy a couple flicks for less than the price
of two shows at the Carmike back home.
And when you travel, you do a lot of eating out at
restaurants. Another different idea would be to try out a cooking studio, where you
learn how to prepare a cool meal and get to eat it afterward.
3.
Enjoy
activities in a new way at a new place.
I love to shop! There are plenty of stores I frequent often
in my hometown and never tire of going. But there’s something about shopping in
a different city that has an appeal. Find unique shops and boutiques instead of
chain stores. Country Charms and Just Because are a couple of places in Atmore
that give shopping a local flair.
Outlet malls and other shopping centers make the experience
feel different somehow. At least to me they do. Same goes for RV parks and campgrounds.
Sure, I could go back to sites I always visit but I know
what to expect there. Going somewhere new, or somewhere I haven’t visited in a
long while, makes for a different experience — tubing or canoeing a
different lake or river, for example. Sometimes it’s just nice to be different.
4.
Swap
homes with a friend or family member for a night.
Remember the show “Wife Swap”? This novel idea is similar
but provides a new outlook on relaxation and what vacation really means.
Find someone willing to let you spend the night alone in
their house. Stock the fridge with a few of their favorite items and drinks,
give them access to your movie collection and have them do the same at their
house.
Then “go on a staycation” at “their lodging establishment”
for a night or weekend. Of course all involved should lay down some ground
rules before swapping living spaces, such as rooms they can and cannot access,
items they can and cannot use, etc. Ideally, these are people you should know, trust
and respect, so letting them stay in your home shouldn’t cause a lot of
anxiety.
Remember: Time away
should be fun.
Vacations are supposed to recharge our systems and let us
enjoy life. And not all vacations are alike. You don’t have to spend a bunch of
money or travel to new and exotic places to be on vacation.
Staying home or
going to driving a couple hours away can be just as exciting and relaxing if
you plan right and make the most of your time.
Try these tips out next time you need a break or a
distraction. Let your hair down and explore the excitement of a staycation.
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